MIAMI -- The former clinic owner accused of selling performance-enhancing drugs to Alex Rodriguez agreed to plead guilty Tuesday in what prosecutors called a wide-ranging conspiracy to distribute steroids to both major league ballplayers and high school athletes.

The charges against former Biogenesis of America owner Anthony Bosch and six others marked one of the biggest salvos yet in a case that has dragged on for nearly two years. The case has sparked lawsuits, mudslinging and suspensions against numerous major leaguers, including Rodriguez.

Also charged was Yuri Sucart, 52, a cousin of Rodriguez who the New York Yankees third baseman has said provided him with steroids from 2000 to 2003 when he played for the Texas Rangers.

Sucart and the others are accused of acting as recruiters, setting up meetings between the athletes and Bosch, who introduced himself as "Dr. T," authorities said. Professional athletes paid up to $12,000 a month for the drugs provided by Biogenesis, while high schoolers paid up to $600 a month. All the clients were promised that the substances would not be found through drug testing, prosecutors said.

"He is not a doctor," Mark R. Trouville, chief of the Miami Drug Enforcement Administration office, said of Bosch. "He is a drug dealer."

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said Bosch did not have a medical license, making what happened all the more dangerous (see full story).

Pirates: McCutchen has broken ribPITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen has a broken bone in his ribcage wo days after being hit by a pitch, but the Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder and last year's NL MVP hopes to avoid going on the disabled list.

McCutchen left in the eighth inning of Sunday's loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Phoenix after feeling pain in his side when he swung at a pitch. He had to be helped down the dugout steps to the clubhouse and also needed help getting dressed after the game.

McCutchen said he couldn't be sure that getting hit might have caused the injury but wouldn't rule it out.

"I don't know but I've taken a million swings and have never felt anything in my side until Sunday," McCutchen said.

McCutchen was hit in the back by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Randal Delgado on Saturday night. Though Delgado said the pitch got away from him, the Pirates suspected it was payback for Diamondbacks star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt suffering a season-ending broken left hand a night earlier when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh reliever Ernesto Frieri (see full story).

Yankees: Add Hill, trade ThorntonNEW YORK -- The New York Yankees have shuffled left-handers in their bullpen, promoting Rich Hill from the minors and letting Matt Thornton go to the Washington Nationals in a waiver claim.

The moves came before the Yankees played Detroit on Tuesday night.

The 34-year-old Hill pitched four games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, striking out 10 in four innings without allowing a run.

Hill pitched two games in the majors this year for the Los Angeles Angels and also was in the minors with Boston. He is 24-22 with a 4.75 ERA during 10 seasons in the majors with the Cubs, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland and the Angels.

The 37-year-old Thornton was 0-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 46 games for the Yankees, pitching 24 2-3 innings.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi says Thornton did well as a lefty specialist. He said Hill could be used in similar situations, and also for multiple innings.

Tigers: Johnson signs minor-league dealNEW YORK -- A person who reviewed the deal tells The Associated Press that free-agent reliever Jim Johnson and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a minor league contract.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement. The Tigers played at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.

Johnson had a major league-best 51 saves for Baltimore in 2012, and then tied for the big league lead last year with 50. The Orioles traded him to Oakland last winter, and he wasn't able to regain his form with the Athletics.

The 31-year-old right-hander was 4-2 with a 7.14 ERA in 38 games with the A's. Johnson was designated for assignment on July 24 and released the following week.

Johnson is likely to pitch a few games at Triple-A Toledo, hoping to join the AL Central-leading Tigers.

Yankees: Tanaka feeling fineNEW YORK -- Yankees star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has gone through a stepped-up workout in his effort to return the New York Yankees' rotation.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi says Tanaka made 50 throws from 60 feet before Tuesday night's game against Detroit. That's twice as many tosses as Tanaka took Monday in his first action since being shut down in early July because of a small tear in his right elbow.

Girardi says Tanaka's latest session had "increased intensity." The 25-year-old Tanaka will take a planned day off Wednesday and resume his workouts Thursday.

The Japanese rookie was 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA before going on the disabled list. He is hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery.

There is no timetable yet as to when Tanaka might be able to pitch again in a game for the Yankees.

Indians: Tomlin recalledCLEVELAND -- The Indians have recalled right-hander Josh Tomlin to start Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Tomlin is 5-7 with a 4.47 ERA in 15 games with Cleveland. He was sent to Triple-A Columbus on July 26 and made one start in the minors before being recalled. Tomlin hasn't won in four starts since pitching a one-hitter against Seattle on June 28.

Outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who was on the 60-day disabled list with a sprained right knee, was activated and released. Morgan last played on May 14.

Marte had been out since July 22. He is hitting .255 with five home runs and 21 stolen bases in 86 games.

Alvarez, who has lost his spot in the lineup because of a throwing problem, may miss up to three games under major league rules.

Marlins: Turned DFAedPITTSBURGH -- Right-hander Jacob Turner has been designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins, who endured his struggles as a starter for the past two seasons.

Turner went 8-19 in 47 games with Miami, including 39 starts. This year he's 4-7 in 20 games with an ERA of 5.97.

Left-hander Bryan Flynn was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday and will likely move into the rotation until righty Henderson Alvarez recovers from shoulder inflammation that sent him to the disabled list.

Turner was considered a top prospect when Miami acquired him two years ago in the five-player trade that sent right-hander Anibal Sanchez to the Detroit Tigers.